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2011 Kia Sorento pricing pops up, starts under $20k*

Pricing for the 2011 Kia Sorento has popped up unannounced on the automaker's consumer website, and as it turns out, you can drive a base model off the lot with money to spare for a Subway footlong – minus taxes and all that. At $19,995 for the starter model (*plus $795 in destination charges), you'll get a five-seat unibody crossover with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a manual transmission standard. That engine puts out 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque and is also standard fitment for the uplevel LX and EX models, but the latter two get automatic transmissions.

The top tier model is the EX V6, with a 3.5-liter V6 proffering 276 hp and 248 ft-lb. All of the variants except the base also come in either front-drive or all-wheel drive variants, and there is also a seven-seat version. By the time you get to the grips-at-all-fours EX V6, you're looking at $28,895.

The Sorento is meant to "significantly increase [Kia's] share of the utility vehicle market," and with pricing like that, a good ride and healthy tech specs, it's got a good shot.

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Anonymous

5 Years Ago

I have already seen the 2011 Sorento on the road here outside Philadelphia. I was behind a 2011 Sorento EX V6 loaded model 2 Saturday's ago. It had a new registration on it and it was not a dealer plate. As an owner of a Sorento, it reminded me of a boxer version of the Santa Fe perhaps the Kia Santa Fe and I am sure the model I saw was close to 30K if not more.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

This is a mechanically excellent vehicle, similar to the new Hyundai Tucson. Unfortunately, just as with the Tucson, Hyundai/Kia botched it in the packaging of options. Again, if I am reading the website correctly, a moonroof costs an extra $8,000 and runs the price up to about $29,000. It requires getting the V6 and the leather interior options. And, just like the Tucson, that puts it in the price territory of the Pilot, Highlander, RAV4 V6, and the CRV. Hyundai/Kia is now way out of it's league and can no longer consider its vehicles a value. As the current long term owner of a first gen Tucson, I bought it because of the value and the ability to option the vehicle like I wanted. There is no way I wanted leather in this Texas heat. Unfortunately, the new Tucson and Sorento cannot be optioned in a way that I am willing to buy. They lost sight of their target market and just priced themselves out of that market.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

jsjs,

In no way did I imply that Sorento and Tucson shared platforms. My comparison was in regard to their packaging of options. And I am well aware that the various other CUVs I listed are not all in the same class. I was making the point that their is strong competition within and around that price category.

While I am quite confident in the quality of the Hyundais and Tucsons, I don't think their reputation has yet caught up enough to justify their meteoric rise in price. But my primary point was disappointment over the packaging of options. I simply want cloth seats, moonroof, and a decent stereo with all of that mechanical goodness. As simple as that request is, Hyundai and Kia refuse to accommodate that.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

You have to go to the EX V6 model because of production reasons. There is currently a production hold on the moonroof in order to get production right since it is a new feature for Kia. Kia wanted to get more loaded models on the ground and since the moonroof is part of a package the only way to do that was to keep the moonroof for the top level trim.

Anonymous

Uhh, the Sorento shares its platform w/ the next-gen Santa Fe, not the Tuscon (which shares its platform w/ the next-gen Sportage).

Not to mention the Pilot and Highlander are in a totally diff. class than the CR-V and Rav-4.

Methinks that you are just confused (as usual).

A V6 Sorento w/ AWD lists for about $29,700; that's in line w/ the price of the base V6/AWD Pilot which is stripped of a lot of the "goodies" that the Sorento has standard (same goes for the Highlander).

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

The 2011 Kia Sorento is still sized like a compact SUV, and the switch to a unibody has exorcised a couple hundred pounds from the curb weight. Interior space is satisfactory, and although the stowable third row is more of a jump seat the 2011 Sorento is a full 3.7 inches longer and about an inch wider. http://www.macktruck.org/2011-kia-sorento-review.html

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

@Carlos

What's your point, Vizel? That's how all automakers price cars. And actually, this is one of the least deceptive examples as the base model is completely loaded. Everyone remember how the Astra started at $15,995...without A/C?

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

@Carlos

=D... I just love how Kia advertises this vehicle as "HEY guys!!!! It starts Under 20,000 dollars!" Yeah... Thanks for 5 bucks back, I'll make sure to stop by K mart to get a burrito and 32 ounce Pepsi on the way home.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Why the hell is a vehicle coming out in January 2010 being listed as a 2011 model? The model year should be the year the model is manufactured. Basically, nearing the end of 2011, you could have a vehicle that is almost 2 years old, but still a 2011 model. Stupid, especially since there won't be a 2010 Sorento.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

You know what lost me on this car? The standard third row seat on the EX V6 model and the fact that you can only get the panoramic moonroof on that model as well. I'll tell you why the standard seat is wrong. I'm 21 (graduating with a job lined up in 4 months), and when I start getting situated with my new job, I'll probably be in the market for one of these CUVs. I think of a third row seat as something a family would want. Kinda like buying a four bedroom house. I don't want that, I want a "condo", haha (stay with me on the metaphors, here.). It really turns me off as a prospective buyer. I'd rather just get the new Tucson.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Oh js I post everywhere, I just have more fun here calling out the fanboys. If you can't stand the heat, get the he11 out of the kitchen!

6'7"...Just put the seat all the way back...and don't get the Speed3. If you think you need AWD then sure, this works. I'm 6'3" and my 3er driver's seat isn't even all the way back, so maybe someday you could look at one of those.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

I concur on the third row seat offering. It makes the vehicle seem too much like a mommy-mobile. It no longer has the tidy compact dimensions of the original Sorento, but is now rather more like a stodgy wagon. And notice that in all the photo releases, they seldom show a straight on profile. I suspect a profile shot would show the longer, more wagon like dimensions and perhaps overlap the new Borrego too much.